Purpose:

Our purpose is twofold: 1) to identify the overall frequency and characteristics of individuals who self-report prescription medication cost coping strategies, and 2) to examine the association between coping strategies and medication underuse and physical and mental health outcomes among a cohort of participants with arthritis from a southeastern state.

Conclusions:

Our findings indicate that individuals with arthritis do use strategies to cope with mediation costs, one of which is medication underuse, and that these strategies have adverse mental and physical health outcomes. Health care practitioners should be alert to issues of medication cost to ensure optimal patient health and medication adherence.